thon saturday night hitting home. ten days to washington dragging the country off the fiscal cliff and lawmakers have headed out of dodge. will it be too late when they get back from christmas break? what will it mean for your family? guns in schools after the nra's defiant announcement. >> the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. >> the question is, are armed guards the way to keep kids safe? at least one school district is already arming the teachers. holiday rush. the mad dash at the mall just three days to go. plus planes, trains, and automobiles. millions of americans hit the road. where will there be a white

christmas? in their honor. signs of the season from coast to coast paying tribute to some genuine american heroes. good evening. those post christmas credit card bills may not be the only shock to the wallet come the new year. with just ten days left to act to avoid a plunge over the fiscal cliff, the president and congress have left washington for the holidays leaving the clock ticking down to an across-the-board tax increase for most americans. ten days is enough time to make a deal if republicans and democrats each decide to give some more ground. but tonight there are no such signs. that leaves millions of holiday shoppers tonight spending money against a paycheck that may soon get noticeably smaller. we'll dig down on how this could affect your bottom line. but first, let's find out where

negotiations stand. nbc's kristen welker is traveling with the president in honolulu. hello, kristen. >> reporter: lester, good evening. president obama played a round of golf this afternoon but white house officials say this is also a working vacation for him and for his staffers. that is little comfort for the millions of americans wondering what the uncertainty in washington means for them. president obama arriving in hawaii after leaving a washington in disarray. while the president put politics aside for his weekly address -- >> michelle and i want to wish you a merry christmas and a happy holidays. >> reporter: -- on friday the focus was on the fiscal cliff. mr. obama conceded a large deal may now be impossible but urged congress to at least prevent taxes from going up on middle class americans while extending unemployment insurance and laying the groundwork for deficit reduction. >> i expect democrats and republicans to get back to washington and have it pass both

chambers. and i will immediately sign that legislation into law. >> reporter: house speaker john boehner also headed home after a bruising week. his own conference refused to back his proposal, which would have allowed taxes to go up on the wealthy, delivering a stinging blow to his leadership. today he faulted the president and congressional democrats for the impasse. >> unfortunately, the president and senate democrats have vowed to reject and veto all of our proposals while failing to offer responsible solutions of their own. >> reporter: the prospects for a deal remain grim. on friday senate republican leader mitch mcconnell said his strategy forward is unclear, but stressed time is running out. >> the u.s. economy is at stake here. millions upon millions of families are counting on us to do something. >> reporter: while the president expressed measured confidence -- >> call me a hopeless optimist but i actually still think we can get it done. >> reporter: many americans say the uncertainty in washington has cast a cloud over their

holiday season. >> i think it's sad because there's no reason that an agreement can't be reached. >> my taxes will go up $3,000 a year. can i afford it? no. can the country afford it? no. >> reporter: now, lawmakers are expected to return to washington after the christmas holiday to resume negotiations but partisan wrangling will be put aside tomorrow when many members of congress, the president, and first lady attend a memorial service for the late senator daniel inouye which will be held right here in honolulu. lester? >> kristen welker traveling with the president tonight. thanks. for more on what going over the so-called fiscal cliff could mean for you and your family come the new year we want to bring in the "today" show financial editor. a lot of focus has been on the expiring bush era tax cuts. let's talk about the amount of money that comes out of your weekly or monthly paycheck. how will that change? >> reporter: the other thing that is expiring is the payroll tax holiday. that is very likely to go

whether or not we get a deal. for americans who earn about $30,000 a year, that's going to mean a cut of $50 a month, $500 over the course of the year in their pay checks. for those who earn closer to $50,000 we're looking at a thousand dollars over the year and if you earn closer to $100,000 it's $2,000 throughout the year. >> let's talk about those expiring tax cuts. if congress doesn't act, how much of a bite is that going to take from the average american? >> well, as the man said in the piece, on average it is going to take about a $3500 bite for the average american. but it is going to take more from upper earners so if you earn more than a million dollars a year you're looking at 11% increase in your taxes. if you earn between $40,000 and $50,000 a year it's more like a 4.5% increase in your taxes. >> what can folks do now? we've got ten days left to eliminate some of that. any action you can take right now? >> i'd check your withholding. if you are one of the 75% of americans who actually gets a refund each year, reducing your

withholding could put more money in your pocket and actually temper the effects of the payroll tax holiday expiration. >> good to have you on tonight. thank you. >> thanks for having me. >> as we're hearing from a lot of americans worried about the fiscal cliff and its effect on their taxes on this final weekend before christmas, malls are packed across america. millions of folks, myself among them, doing a lot of last-minute shopping. nbc's michelle franzen is along 5th avenue here in midtown manhattan where the buying seems to be brisk. michelle, good evening. >> reporter: well, good evening, lester. shoppers are out tonight on this last saturday before christmas, typically one of the busiest days of the shopping season. whether shoppers are wrapping up gift buying or just getting started. but for some, that uncertainty over the fiscal economy is also affecting how much they'll spend. with just three more days to shop before christmas, the crowds are out in full force on this super saturday. >> i know who i need to buy for

but not what i'm buying yet. >> reporter: even as uncertainty over the fiscal cliff is on the minds of some shoppers. >> it's sort of scary. it's concerning. >> reporter: a poll out this week of 1500 americans showed that 17% are planning to spend less due to money concerns. still, retail analysts say holiday sales are ontrack to rise 4.1% to $586 billion the most optimistic forecast since the recession. >> if we recall black friday did about 11.2 billion dollars in sales. but they had very strong results compared to last year. retailers are hoping that the consumers will come back and deliver those same strong results during this last weekend of the year. >> last-minute shoppers playing the waiting game are in good company. >> i haven't started yet. >> a poll released this week by "consumer reports" found 132 million people hadn't finished their holiday shopping. 26 million had yet to start. 17 million said they planned to

be shopping on christmas eve. >> i work better under pressure than if i take a lot of time. >> reporter: retailers are meeting that demand by offering more discounts and more time to shop. toys r' us, macy's, and target just a few stores staying open around the clock until christmas eve. for the record number of online shoppers who shipped ahead, drivers are also out in force, racing against the clock and battling winter weather to deliver gifts on time. >> it was very windy and the packages have to get out. it just has to be done. >> a push to the finish line and the checkout line as shoppers and retailers count down to christmas. analysts say if lawmakers are able to strike a fiscal deal it could also give retail sales a boost heading into the new year. lester? >> all right. michelle, thank you. millions are shopping and millions are traveling this weekend before christmas and a lot of folks are digging out

after an ill-timed winter storm. we've got it all covered and go first to weather channel meteorologist scott newell. what's the forecast? >> well, i'll tell you something. the ski resorts here in western new york are absolutely thrilled that they had a major snowstorm already but that system moved from the midwest eastward and has caused a lot of problems including an accident in western maryland that killed one person, bringing the death toll from the storm to at least eight. the lake effect snow had a lot of people here in new york digging out early. in fact, several areas in western new york reported snowfalls of a foot or more. heavy snow and ice knocked out power in several cities including parts of maine and michigan. lake effect snow continues off lake ontario and those areas east and southeast of lake ontario should pick up an additional 3 to 6 inches by tomorrow. the storms will keep on coming, a minor system beginning on christmas eve will dump a few inches of snow in ohio through pennsylvania, north jersey, and southern new england. and we're tracking another major storm on the west coast which

will bring a stripe of snow from oklahoma city to the midwest by christmas before heading up to the northeast mid week with coastal cities getting mostly rain and those inland either snow or a mix. so after a very mild winter last year, a whole lot of action in the last week. lester? >> all right. scott newell checking in for us. thanks. now to the mad rush at airports across the country tonight. nbc's gabe gutierrez is at the world's busiest airport hartsfield jackson in atlanta. how is it looking? >> reporter: well, major airports caught a bit of a break today. nowhere near as many cancellations as we saw thursday and friday. instead this morning rain slowed down some flights in san francisco and up in the northeast there were some minor travel headaches as well as winds delayed flights from washington and the new york area. a lot of people were paying attention to weather reports today. nearly one in four americans will travel this holiday taking advantage of a longer break with both christmas and new year's falling on a tuesday.

and this is good news for the 84 million americans who will drive. gas prices have dropped to an average of 3.24 a gallon. that's down nearly 20 cents in a month. here in atlanta, many travelers are just thankful that it isn't more hectic at this point but as you know, lester, with so many connections passing through here, that can always change very quickly. >> we know that indeed. gabe gutierrez, thank you. more than two and a half years since the deep water horizon exploded in the gulf of mexico. a federal judge has approved a nearly $8 billion settlement between bp and some 100,000 folks along the gulf coast whose businesses were devastated by the oil spill. that lasted keep in mind nearly three months. thousands of people have opted out of the settlement choosing to pursue their cases individually. the massachusetts specialty pharmacy at the center of the deadly meningitis outbreak earlier this year says it has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy

protection. the new england compounding center shut down after it was linked to the outbreak that killed 39 people and sickened hundreds more. health officials say the fafrm y pharmacy makes tainted vials of steroids and the company is facing 130 lawsuits. there is word from london tonight that prosecutors are weighing whether to press charges against a pair of australian dejays over a radio hoax that happened days before one of kate middleton's nurses took her own life. the dejays impersonated the queen and prince charles, asking about kate's condition. they fooled that nurse who passed them through to a colleague who revealed kate's condition. scotland yard says it submitted the case to prosecutors to consider whether any potential offenses may have been committed. it is not even christmas yet but pope benedict's former butler got what he was hoping for, a few days early. the pope met with him today granting him a pardon two months after he was convicted of

leaking private papal documents and sentenced to 18 months in jail. he said he was trying to expose alleged corruption he believed was being hidden from the pope. the vatican says it will help him find a new job outside the church. still ahead as nbc nightly news continues the heated debate over guns in schools. the nra wants armed guards to protect kids but at least one school district is already arming the teachers. later, something else going on in schools. the sound of music. ♪ very sore looking kinda blistery. like somebody had set a bag of hot charcoal on my neck. i was a firefighter for 24 years. but, i have never encountered such a burning sensation until i had the shingles. i remember it well. i was in the back yard doing yard work. i had this irritation going on in my lower neck. i changed shirts because i thought there was something in the collar of the shirt irritating my neck.

and i couldn't figure out what was going on. i had no idea it came from chickenpox. i always thought shingles was associated with people... a lot older than myself. i can tell you from experience, it is bad. it's something you never want to encounter. for more of the inside story, visit shinglesinfo.com tomato, obviously. haha. there's more than that though, there's a kick to it. wahlalalalallala! smooth, but crisp. it's kind of like drinking a food that's a drink, or a drink that's a food, woooooh! [ male announcer ] taste it and describe the indescribable. could've had a v8. plays a key role throughout our lives. one a day men's 50+ is a complete multivitamin designed for men's health concerns as we age. it has 7 antioxidants to support cell health. one a day men's 50+.

but with advair, i'm breathing better. so now i can be in the scene. advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd.com.

we're back with the issue of guns in america following the newtown tragedy, specifically protecting schools with armed guards. yesterday the executive vice president of the nra called for just that in every school in america. it's a highly controversial idea but as nbc's charles hadlock reports some schools are going a big step further. >> reporter: in school districts across the country teachers, administrators, and politicians are debating ways to keep classrooms safer. a police officer now walks the halls in an elementary school in butler, pennsylvania, one of a growing list of school districts including marlboro, new jersey and orange county, florida hiring armed guards after the deadly newtown shootingins. >> we have armed officers in all 14 schools in the butler school district and plan to have that on a daily basis from now on.

>> reporter: but soon it may be more than just armed guards patrolling the nation's public schools. lawmakers in at least ten states have said they'll consider laws allowing teachers and administrators to carry firearms. in tiny harrold, texas where the nearest sheriff's deputy is 30 minutes away teachers and administrators sometimes felt unsafe. in harrold all 100 students from kindergarten to 12th grade attend school in one building. in a school this small and remote a security guard would be too costly so here teachers are the first responders. they're allowed even encouraged to carry concealed hand guns after they've obtained licenses and extensive training. >> we're not teaching violence. we're protecting kids. >> reporter: the superintendent says he believes the program, now in its fifth year, will prevent the unthinkable. >> i want to be able to call my parents and say, a bad guy came into our school. your child is coming home safe and sound. the bad guy is leaving in a body

bag. >> reporter: strong words that worry some teachers groups. >> i just think that we are setting up a scenario where more people are going to get hurt and the wrong people will get hurt in these cases. and i think it's just bad policy. >> reporter: and in michigan this week the governor vetoed a bill that would have allowed teachers to carry guns. >> it's impractical and ineffective. there was an armed guard at columbine. that didn't help. typically these episodes, these tragedies are concluded in a matter of seconds or minutes. >> reporter: still, the idea may be catching on. in oregon one gun shop is offering teachers free hand gun lessons. back in harrold, superintendent tweet won't say which teachers or how many have guns. part of the secret, he says, to keeping students safe. nbc news, harrold, texas. >> he didn't take any questions after yesterday's announcement but nra chief wayne laperriere will do just that when he sits down with david gregory for an exclusive interview tomorrow morning on "meet the press."

up next here tonight they're taking the old school musical to a whole new level. ♪ the financial obstacles military families face, we understand. at usaa, we know military life is different. we've been there. that's why every bit of financial advice we offer is geared specifically to current and former military members and their families. [ laughs ] dad! dad! [ applause ] ♪ [ male announcer ] life brings obstacles. usaa brings advice. call or visit us online. we're ready to help. without freshly-made pasta. you could also cut corners by making it without 100% real cheddar cheese. but then...it wouldn't be stouffer's mac & cheese.

just one of over 70 satisfying recipes for one from stouffer's. five days later, i had a massive heart attack. bayer aspirin was the first thing the emts gave me. now, i'm on a bayer aspirin regimen. [ male announcer ] be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. [ woman ] learn from my story. before you begin an aspirin regimen. those little things for you, life's about her. but your erectile dysfunction - that could be a question of blood flow. cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury,

seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. when you think of an opera audience you probably think of an older, more sophisticated crowd. but the folks at the metropolitan opera here in new york are hoping to broaden the base and thanks to one special teacher they're starting with a group of kids who have learned to love it. nbc's stephanie gosk went to one elementary school where there is a whole new sound of music. ♪ >> the overtures and arias of opera have filled concert halls for centuries but will this majestic art form eventually be drowned out by modern life? not if music teacher steven

cedarmark has anything to say or sing about it. in an elementary school in brooklyn, he is taking the fight to keep opera alive to the kids. ♪ >> reporter: he's got their attention. ♪ >> when you think about opera in its purist form what it is is really story and song and children really love both of those. >> reporter: they don't just watch or listen in mr. c's class. students draw, role play, and of course sing. ♪ >> reporter: even through the mustaches. that's "the barber of seville." >> then what happens? >> the actual translation? >> yeah. tell me. >> let's be quiet, chatter -- >> reporter: slow it down. cedarmark has some formidible support -- new york's

metropolitan opera. >> if we don't have audiences in the future, opera will cease to exist. the metropolitan opera is dedicated to making this grand art form accessible. >> this is awesome. >> on every possible level and starting with kids. >> reporter: as part of the met's outreach cedarmark's kids along with more than a thousand others from around the city were invited to the dress rehearsal of "the barber of seville." isabelle leonard is used to enraptured audiences but not quite lake this one. >> they're all there with their eyes wide open and hands on the front of the seats. it's great. >> reporter: at the end of the show a special treat for the kids and the star soprano. ♪ >> reporter: just in case anyone had any doubts about the future of opera, some proof that even a new generation can get hooked. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. when we come back, signs of the season across america.

but there is a powerful message behind these decorations. s the . i have a cold, and i took nyquil, but i'm still "stubbed" up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't unstuff your nose. what? [ male announcer ] it doesn't have a decongestant. no way. [ male announcer ] sorry. alka-seltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms plus has a fast acting decongestant to relieve your stuffy nose. [ sighs ] thanks! [ male announcer ] you're welcome. that's the cold truth! [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus. ♪ oh what a relief it is! ♪ [ male announcer ] to learn more about the cold truth and save $1 visit alka-seltzer on facebook. you spend all day cooking it. so why spend even a moment considering any broth but swanson? the broth cooks trust most to make the meal folks spend all year waiting for. in stuffing and more, the secret is swanson.

is the same frequent heartburn treatment as prilosec otc. now with a fancy coating that gives you a burst of wildberry flavor. now why make a flavored heartburn pill? because this is america.

and we don't just make things you want, we make things you didn't even know you wanted. like a spoon fork. spray cheese. and jeans made out of sweatpants. so grab yourself some new prilosec otc wildberry. [ male announcer ] one pill each morning. 24 hours. zero heartburn. satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. finally tonight a ritual this holiday season that has special meaning for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. here is nbc's mike taibbi from fort stewart, georgia. >> it seems so simple. the human reflex. that time of year you remember those you've lost.

but in fort stewart, what takes place in december has become more than a simple reflex. they place wreaths by a marker each by its own tree to remember every third infantry soldier who gave all for the sake of all of us like lieutenant john eades killed in iraq in 2007 leaving his bride laura behind. >> having the ceremony does kind of bring you back and sometimes it's painful. but i think it's important to remember. >> and major paul voelke who just this past june fell in combat in afghanistan leaving a.j. and benjamin fatherless. >> it's so hard to live without him. >> reporter: and wife tracy comforted that this gathering will recur each year. >> hopefully my grand kids will come back and see that we can come back and visit and know that he is alive in our hearts. >> reporter: like all news organizations, nbc news could not have covered the march to baghdad at the start of the iraq war or the surge five years later that turned the tide or the continuing challenges in

afghanistan without joining the third i.d. at the point of engagement. their sacrifices have been immense, 443 warriors lost so far. but here friends and family and total strangers have been coming together for years just before christmas to acknowledge and honor the fallen. this year, after one of the worst domestic shooting massacres in american history. >> don't be afraid to reach out to someone who you know suffered a loss. like one of these people that suffered a loss whether it is in something like connecticut or a soldier who's lost their life, let them know, let the family members know you're thinking about them. >> reporter: for many, for these families, the pain endures. only eased a little at a time, a year at a time, a day at a time. the lesson? hold tight. keep holding tight. mike taibbi, nbc news, fort stewart, georgia. >> our thanks to these american heroes and our thoughts with their families tonight. that is "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'm lester holt reporting from

new york. i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today" and right back here tomorrow evening. we leave you with the crowds outside our door step here at rockefeller plaza. good night, everyone.